Eurovision -- the curious annual song contest that sees a continent united around its televisions for an evening of high-energy songs , spangled costumes and ill-advised drinking games -- is once more upon us .

Founded in 1956 , it was intended as a way to bring together once-warring nations through the innocent medium of pop music .

It has n't necessarily ended the rivalries -LRB- the voting-based results system is notoriously territorial -RRB- , but for the hundreds of millions watching on TV , Eurovision is a well-rehearsed , almost comforting routine .

It 's less comforting , however , for the competitors and fans dispatched to an unfamiliar city -- this year 's Grand Final will be held May 10 at the B&W Grand Ballroom in Copenhagen -- to uphold or betray national honor with only leotard-clad backing dancers for company .

Copenhagen : 10 Things to know before you go

Help is at hand , though .

Herewith our insiders ' guide to maximizing post-Eurovision joy , or minimizing sorrow , in the Danish capital .

Drinking and dancing

Copenhagen is compact for a major capital , with a shade over half a million inhabitants , but it 's increasingly famed for nightlife , especially in the Meatpacking District -- just like the similarly scenester-filled area of New York -- near the central station .

Here the nightlife concentration is sufficiently dense to allow disgruntled central European crooners to stumble from bar to club .

For those determined to dance , locals suggest KB18 -LRB- Kodboderne 18 ; +45 33 313 933 -RRB- , or Culture Box -LRB- Kronprinsessegade 54 ; +45 33 325 050 -RRB- .

Slightly closer to the contest 's harbor-side venue is the dingy but welcoming Eiffel Bar -LRB- Wildersgade 18 ; + 45 32 577 092 -RRB- in Christianshavn , a possible home-from-home for this year 's face fur-fixated French entry , Twin Twin .

The walls are covered in Parisian iconography and the beer is dirt cheap .

The more adventurous could venture to one of the city 's most defiantly hip nightclubs , Sunday -LRB- Lille Kongensgade 16 ; +45 53 668 228 -RRB- , which boasts an in-house team of Thai transgender dancers and a mission to -- their words -- `` push the borders of wicked indecency . ''

Eating

Enough about Noma , already .

The seashore-foraging , micro-herb-arranging repeat winner of the best restaurant in the world crown is undeniably astounding .

But the chances of getting a table are roughly the same as Portugal 's prospects of ever winning Eurovision -LRB- this year 's entrant , Suzy , was kicked out in the semi-finals , adding to half a century of failure -RRB- .

Perhaps off limits too are various offshoots such as Amass , run by a former Noma head chef , or Bror , where the specialty is braised lamb 's head with whipped brain and stuffed eyeballs -- which sounds almost as tricky to digest as Latvia 's saccharine Eurovision entry .

Danish restaurant Noma named the world 's best

A better bet is smorrebrod , the traditional Danish open sandwiches that are escaping their lunchtime roots and entering the world of fine dining .

Smorrebrod and 10 more new American sandwich heroes

Many of the better known outlets tend to be booked up , but you can try Dyrehaven -LRB- Sonder Boulevard 72 -RRB- off Vesterbro in the city center , which does n't take reservations and attracts a fashionable crowd .

For more basic fare still , there 's always Copenhagen 's many and famous hot dog stands .

Harry 's Place -LRB- Nordre Fasanvej 269 -RRB- is a little ways outside the center , but locals make the trip for both the sausages and the trademark chili sauce , known as krudt -- the Danish word for gunpowder .

Same-sex marriage

Not for everyone , obviously , and arguably a little hard to arrange on a night out .

Nevertheless , this is one of the Eurovision-based attractions promoted by Copenhagen officials .

Throughout the Eurovision weekend the city is encouraging any couples to tie the knot .

Ceremonies can be held on a specially arranged `` wedding boat '' cruising the harbor .

The marriages are intended to mark both the 25th anniversary of same-sex civil partnerships in Denmark -- the first country in the world to permit them -- and Eurovision 's open-minded reputation .

With its focus on flamboyant acts and tight sequined outfits , the contest has always had a decidedly camp air , a reputation sealed when Dana International , an Israeli transgender woman , won in 1998 .

Her mantle has been passed this year to Austria 's entrant , Conchita Wurst , the bearded drag alter ego of singer Tom Neuwirth .

Cycling

Something of a Danish cliche , perhaps -- the city has one of the highest rates of bike use in the world -- but stick with us , because Eurovision 2014 needs all the environmental help it can get .

Most bike-friendly cities in the United States

This year 's event had proudly branded itself the greenest contest ever -- until newspapers discovered electricity for the venue itself is being provided by 26 very large , very smelly diesel generators .

Contestants can pedal serenely away from the fumes , and the humiliation of being beaten by Malta 's Mumford and Sons-lite entry , Firelight , on Copenhagen 's famous network of segregated bike lanes .

Organizers are laying on fleets of bikes for Eurovision use , and the city is littered with rental shops . -LRB- Rent A Bike Copenhagen , Adelgade 11 ; +45 32 12 50 50 and Gasværksvej 5 ; +45 50 32 11 00 -RRB- .

For those feeling particularly homesick -- or humiliated -- the city 's airport , only about six miles from the center , is connected by yet more of those ubiquitous bike lanes .

The Little Mermaid

While arguably the most iconic symbol of Copenhagen , the bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen 's famous fairy tale character is underwhelming in real life , standing little more than a meter tall .

Five places to find mermaids

Her harbor-side location , however , is restful -- the perfect place to sit and contemplate what might have been had the seams on the lead dancer 's costume held together a little longer .

It 's a place to consider also that even if Copenhagen 's attractions are n't enough , things could have been much , much more sedate .

The capital won its bid to host the event against a series of notably smaller Danish locations .

Among them was Herning , a city on Denmark 's Jutland peninsula whose tourist information board lists `` libraries '' as among the chief attractions .

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This year 's annual Eurovision song contest is being held in Copenhagen

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The Danish capital is increasingly famed for its nightlife

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Denmark is celebrating the 25th anniversary of legal same-sex civil partnerships . It was first country to permit them